Capecitabine in tough breast cancer with a wearable electric field device
Official title: CuRrEnT: Capecitabine in RCB2/3 with a wearable induced Electric field device in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Funded at Embiosys INC. · NIH-11418087 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new wearable, washable garment delivers a gentle electric field to help treat triple-negative breast cancer in patients who have already tried standard therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Embiosys INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Andover, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 17, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $870,482 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA310518-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418087 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with TNBC who have relapsed or are at high risk of relapse after standard treatment and are eligible for capecitabine.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with TNBC who cannot tolerate chemotherapy or do not respond to capecitabine may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This grant supports testing a wearable device that provides a non-invasive electric field therapy in combination with capecitabine for women with hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer. The study builds on preclinical evidence showing the device can target cancer cells while being safe and comfortable to wear. Patients would receive standard care along with the wearable therapy, with monitoring for response and any side effects. The goal is to improve disease control and extend time before progression when used alongside existing treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better control of TNBC and longer periods without progression when the wearable electric field is used with chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical results in mouse models showed that the electric field therapy reduced cancer activity when combined with chemotherapy, but human data are not yet available.
Where this research is happening
-
Embiosys INC.
North Andover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barron, Christopher — Embiosys INC.
- Study coordinator: Barron, Christopher
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Genomic study to understand how genetics and epigenetics shape triple-negative breast cancer in African ancestry
This study looks at how inherited genes and gene activity affect triple-negative breast cancer in people of African ancestry to better understand why outcomes can be worse.
-
Co-Targeting IL-6 and CDK4/6 to Prevent TNBC in Women Veterans
A study aims to block two cancer-promoting pathways (IL-6 and CDK4/6) to prevent or reduce progression of triple-negative breast cancer in women veterans.
-
Linking heavy metal exposure to a tougher breast cancer type (TNBC)
Aimed at understanding how heavy metals like cadmium might trigger a dangerous breast cancer type (TNBC) in people, especially those with BRCA1 risk, to identify possible future treatment strategies.
-
Dormancy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How Liver and Skin Metastases Go Quiet or Reactivate
Researchers will study how dormant cancer cells in liver and skin metastases of triple-negative breast cancer become quiescent or wake up, using organ-on-chip models and single-cell analysis to map chromatin states.
-
Rac-enhanced CAR-Macrophages against TNBC
A new cell therapy approach uses engineered macrophages with a CAR and Rac2 activation to target and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells expressing CSPG4.
-
A new peptide therapy to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
A new peptide therapy called PEG-FUD is being tested to help treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by normalizing the tumor environment to improve treatment delivery.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.